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Support of the United Farm Workers' Boycott of Gallo Wines

2005 Action of Immediate Witness

In solidarity with people struggling against oppression everywhere, Unitarian
Universalist member congregations are urged to participate with the National
Farm Worker Ministry, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, in support of a
boycott of E. & J. Gallo wines that began on June 14, 2005. Grounded in our
stance for justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, we ally ourselves
with the National Farm Worker Ministry and its efforts with the United Farm
Workers to provide fair and respectful working conditions for the Gallo farm
workers. The Unitarian Universalist Association can be among the first religious
assemblies to stand with the farm workers on this issue at this immediate time.

Because Gallo refused to provide health benefits to those employees hired
through farm labor contractors, workers voted overwhelmingly in a 1994
state-conducted election to join the union. It took five years for Gallo of
Sonoma, a Gallo subsidiary, to sign a United Farm Workers contract. On November
1, 2003, the United Farm Workers contract with Gallo of Sonoma expired. Since
then, the number of Gallo of Sonoma employees hired through labor contractors
has grown to seventy-five percent. The company still refuses to provide health
coverage for its workers.

We call on our congregations to boycott Gallo wines until the management of
Gallo of Sonoma negotiates a new contract with the United Farm Workers providing
for fair wages, just working conditions, and health benefits for all of its farm
workers. Support for this boycott will also encourage and inspire other farm
workers in communities across the West, Midwest, South, and Northeast.